Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania

Transport will be provided from the Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodation in Moshi. You’ll have some rest before meeting your guides, who will brief you about the climb and Mt. Kilimanjaro, followed by equipment check to ensure that all you have all the essentials. If some of your equipment is missing or is in a bad shape, you can rent from us. You’ll have dinner and spend the night here in preparation for the adventure awaiting you.

Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Hut

You will be picked from your hotel in Moshi at around 8:00 A.M. and transferred to Machame gate, a journey that takes you through Machame village, located on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. After finishing sign in formalities at the gate, you’ll be provided with lunch boxes and water. The Bless Africa crew will organize all the luggage and food, weigh them, and then get the necessary permit.

You will then begin your hike through the rainforest on a twisted path up the ridge. The trail can be muddy and slippery, so the gaiters and trekking poles could come handy. You will have lunch along the way, as we continue with our trek to Machame Hut campsite.

• Elevation 1800meters to 3100meters
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 3: Machame Hut to Shira Cave Campsite

Hike to Shira Cave Campsite begins after breakfast. The rainforest will be left behind, and we’ll cross the little valley and walk beside the rocky ridge. Lunch will be served along the way, followed by final hike to Shira cave. Later, in the afternoon,  acclimatization walk commence to help you get used to the altitude. Dinner will be served at Shira cave, where you will rest for the day.

• Elevation 3100meters to 3840meters
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Day 4: Shira Cave Campsite to Lava Tower to Barranco Campsite

Today’s trek to Barranco campsite starts after breakfast, and our path will be towered by  Lava Tower (4600meters), which is also called the Shark’s tooth. Your lunch will be served at the Lava Tower, as you’ll spend some time at this altitude to get used to it. Then we’ll head to Barranco camp, nested at 3950m, and here you will have dinner and spend the night. Despite the fact that this day will end at the same elevation at which it begins, it is very important for acclimatization of your body for summit day.

• Elevation 3840meters to 4600meters to 3950meters
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 8-9 hours
• Habitat: Semi-Desert

Day 5: Barranco Campsite to Karanga Valley Campsite

We depart Barranco after breakfast, continuing on a steep ridge at the base of Barranco Wall toward Karanga Valley campsite. Hot lunch will be served at the camp. Later in the afternoon, you should go for acclimatization walk. Dinner will be served at Karanga valley, where you will also spend the night.

• Elevation 3950metters to 4002meters
• Distance: 5 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6: Karanga Valley Campsite to Barafu Hut

You will continue trekking to Barafu after breakfast, from which the view of the summit tends to be different as you shift angles. Once we reach the campsite, you can get the excellent view of the summit, but also enjoy the sight of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Dinner will be served early, and you should rest and prepare for the final ascend.

• Elevation 4002meters to 4600meters
• Distance: 4 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 7: Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Campsite

Hiking to the summit will begin short after midnight, at around 12:30 A.M., as our path twists through heavy scree towards Stella Point at the crater rim. This part of the hike is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the ascend. Once we reach Stella Point, you will rest and refresh with warm cup of tea or coffee, accompanied by the views of the magnificent sunrise coming above Mawenzi. Going further up, you might encounter snow storm, although it is dictated by the season you are taking for the hike. The summit, Uhuru Peak – the highest point on Kilimanjaro and all of Africa, is just an hour ascend from Stella Point.

From the summit, you will start trekking down to Mweka campsite. Lunch stop will be at Barafu camp, where you can take some rest, before we continue our descend towards Mweka Campsite, which is located in the forest. Here, you will have your last dinner and overnight on the Kilimanjaro.

• Elevation 4600meters to 5895meters (and down to 3100meters)
• Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
• Habitat: Arctic

Day 8: Mweka Campsite to Mweka Gate

Breakfast will be served before we begin hiking down to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive summit certificates. Path on the lower elevations can be rather wet and muddy, so the gaiters and trekking poles might come handy. There will be a vehicle waiting at the gate to take you back to your accommodation in Moshi.

• Elevation 3100meters to 1800meters
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 9: Moshi – Tarangire National Park

After a breakfast, your drive will be at your hotel ready to take approximate 3-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Giant baobab trees, bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered as one of the best places to view elephants up close. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. In the evening you reach your lodge inside the park.

• Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley Lodge

Day 10: Karatu – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water.

• Dinner and overnight at Embalakai Tented Camp

Day 11: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation

On your outward journey to the park gate, you will enjoy some more game viewing before you leave the Serengeti National Park in the early afternoon to continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you can also see the Maasai boma with their traditional life. You will be staying at the lodge located on rim of Ngorongoro crater.

Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

After breakfast you will descend the crater 600m down the crater for game. The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – to spotted hyenas, rare warthogs, and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After an extensive game drive and a picnic for lunch at hippo pool, you will leave the caldera in the late afternoon you will leave the crater and drive to Arusha town.

• Accommodation: The Bay Leaf Arusha(bed and breakfast)

Day 13: Departure Date

Today you may have a plan to fly home or have a flight to Zanzibar, our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at perfect time to catch your flight.